Councillors reveal bid to split county in two

Cllr Sharon Harvey, Redditch Borough Council leader, is backing the split

Proposals to split Worcestershire in two have been revealed, with supporters saying it will "transform" council services.

Worcestershire is taking part in the plans for local government reorganisation from 2028, with a business case for a unitary authority revealed earlier this month.

Now a rival counter-proposal to create two councils - north Worcestershire and south Worcestershire - is set to be submitted to central government, with backers claiming to have the support of the general public.

Councillor Sharon Harvey, leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: "We have to reflect that there are two different geographies in Worcestershire."

The submission for 'Transforming Worcestershire', which spans 158 pages, has been created by district councils in Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon.

Under the bid, Redditch, Wyre Forest and Bromsgrove would come together to form a north Worcestershire council, while Worcester, Malvern and Wychavon would come under a south Worcestershire authority.

It reveals how creating the two authorities would cost around £19 million, compared to £22m for a single unitary council.

The recurring revenue savings are estimated to be £9m, compared to £21m for the 'One Worcestershire' model.

But the document argues that one council would mean "greater redundancy costs", and calls the expected savings of the rival submission "theoretical" as it relies on more complicated reforms.

Worcester and Evesham could come under a south Worcestershire council

'More politicians'

Two authorities would also mean an extra 19 councillors in Worcestershire, with a total of 133 across the county, compared to 114 under the unitary model.

The report argues that with thousands of extra homes being built, having a higher number would mean councillors are "less stretched" and able to represent people more effectively.

Either outcome would be a drastic change from the current situation, with 256 councillors at present.

The new report does not state what council tax bills people would face, but it says the split would "likely see smaller increases" and "avoid steep rises" compared to the 'One Worcestershire' model.

Last month, the BBC revealed leaked slides suggesting that residents face the prospect of significant tax rises - more than £400 a year - in some parts of Worcestershire under the unitary model.

The report also says 62% of people who took part in a survey, which 4,000 people responded to, supported a two-council solution.

The five district authorities in Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester, Wychavon and Malvern are set to submit their plan to central government by the 28 November deadline.

Cllr Harvey said: "A north-south Worcestershire split will give better outcomes for people who use council services.

"This is about transforming and improving services - we think 'outcomes' will be better than 'savings'.

"We have to reflect that there are two different geographies in Worcestershire.

"The north is much more urban and is more important in terms of economic growth and employment - the bigger south of the county is more rural, which has different needs."

The 'One Worcestershire' business case is backed by Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council, and will also be submitted this month.